Ilex plant--Mesan variety

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct variety of Ilex×meserveae which originated as a cross-pollination of Ilex aquifolium and Ilex rugosa is provided. The new variety possesses very attractive, glossy, deep green foliage, produces an abundance of staminate flowers, and exhibits a vigorous growth characteristic and good tolerance to cold.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

My invention relates to a new, distinctive and useful form ofIlex×meserveae originated by me by crossing an unnamed and unpatentedseedling of the species known botanically as Ilex aquifolium with anunnamed and unpatented seedling of the species known botanically as Ilexrugosa.

The object of my breeding was to create a hardy, vigorous and versatileshrub of attractive appearance which combined the beauty of the Ilexaquifolium foliage with the hardiness of Ilex rugosa. This objective wassuccessfully achieved, and the new variety exhibits a combination ofcharacteristics which distinguish it from all offspring resulting fromthe same cross, as well as all other forms of Ilex of which I am aware.

The following combination of characteristics is exhibited by the newvariety:

(a) a well branched and upright habit of growth which is more vigorousthan that of Blue Prince variety (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 3,517) and whichis much more vigorous and more upright than Blue Boy variety (U.S. PlantPat. No. 2,435),

(b) a more compact and shrub-like habit of growth than Ilex aquifolium,

(c) an abundance of staminate flowers which appear in spring, and, inlesser quantities, throughout the entire growing season and whichproduce the pollen necessary for fertilizing the pistilate flowers ofother varieties of Ilex×meserveae and other forms of Ilex,

(d) the ability to be sheared and trimmed to be kept within prescribedlimits or shaped to a particular shape or form,

(e) cold tolerance which is superior to its aquifolium parent,

(f) deep, slightly glaucous, green foliage which is longer and widerthan that of Blue Prince variety and considerably longer and wider thanthat of Blue Boy variety,

(g) less prominent spines than Blue Prince variety or Blue Boy variety,which, combined with the vigorous upright habit of growth, make thepresent variety especially well suited for use as snag-free hedging bywalkways and other places where there is considerable traffic, and,

(h) growth characteristics which make it superior in field productionfrom a cultural standpoint to other male Ilex×meserveae.

Approximately seventy percent of two year old container grown plants ofthe present variety measure approximately 15 to 18 inches in height andbreadth when grown at West Grove, Pa. For comparative purposesapproximately fifty-five percent of two year old plants of the BluePrince variety measure approximately 15 to 18 inches in height andbreadth under the same growing conditions, and in excess of fiftypercent of two year old plants of the Blue Boy variety measureapproximately 12 to 15 inches in height and breadth under the samegrowing conditions. The size disparity between the present variety andthe Blue Prince and Blue Boy varieties is more pronounced when theplants are grown in the field or landscape.

The present variety has successfully withstood in the absence ofdefoliation or other damage winter temperatures of approximately -15° F.when field grown.

Asexual reproduction, by cuttings, of my new plant has been accomplishedat St. James, N.Y., and at West Grove, Pa. Succeeding propagations haveshown the unique combination of characteristics is fully established andtransmitted to successive generations.

The new variety has been named the Mesan variety.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs show typical specimens of my new variety ofIlex during late May as depicted in color as true as is reasonablypossible to make the same in color photographs of this character. Thespecimens in the photographs were grown in the ground at West Grove, Pa.

FIG. 1 shows a typical four year old plant of the present variety.

FIG. 2 shows typical branches and leaves of the present variety. Thecurrent year's growth and the prior year's growth are apparent on thebranches. The upper and lower surfaces of the leaves are shown.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following is a detailed description of my new variety made from fouryear old plants growing in the ground at West Grove, Pa. Colorterminology is made in accordance with The R. H. S. Colour Chart of TheRoyal Horticultural Society, London, England.

Class: Ilex×meserveae

Parentage: Ilex aquifolium seedling×Ilex rugosa seedling

Foliage:

Type.--Evergreen. Leaves mostly eliptic in shape, with a few leavesovate. Apex acute, base obtuse. Margins serrate with from ten to fifteenspines. Spines are much less pronounced than on Blue Boy and BluePrince.

Size.--Mature leaves on main stem (measurements to tips of spines) --length from approximately 3.9 to 6.6 cm., with an average ofapproximately 5.9 cm.; width from approximately 2.5 to 4.0 cm., with anaverage of approximately 3.5 cm.

Color.--Mature leaves in late May, upper side -- Green Group 139A; underside -- Green Group 143A. Mature leaves are quite glossy, although lessglossy than Blue Prince. Immature leaves, upper side -- Green Group141A; under side -- Yellow-Green Group 144A-144B.

Stems:

Color.--In late May, Purple Group 79B.

Flowers: Flowers are not substantially different from staminate flowersof the instant species.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Ilex×meserveae, substantiallyas herein shown and described, characterized particularly as to noveltyby the unique combination of:(a) a well branched and upright habit ofgrowth which is more vigorous than that of Blue Prince variety (U.S.Plant Pat. No. 3,517) and which is much more vigorous and more uprightthan Blue Boy variety (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 2,435), (b) a more compactand shrub-like habit of growth than Ilex aquifolium, (c) an abundance ofstaminate flowers which appear in spring, and, in lesser quantities,throughout the entire growing season and which produce the pollennecessary for fertilizing the pistilate flowers of other varieties ofIlex×meserveae and other forms of Ilex, (d) the ability to be shearedand trimmed to be kept within prescribed limits or shaped to aparticular shape or form, (e) cold tolerance which is superior to itsaquifolium parent, (f) deep, slightly glaucous, green foliage which islonger and wider than that of Blue Prince variety and considerablylonger and wider than that of Blue Boy variety, (g) less prominentspines than Blue Prince variety or Blue Boy variety, which, combinedwith the vigorous upright habit of growth, make the present varietyespecially well suited for use as snag-free hedging by walkways andother places where there is considerable traffic, and, (h) growthcharacteristics which make it superior in field production from acultural standpoint to other male Ilex×meserveae.